Green machines

GM's Bob Lutz unveils the Volt concept car at the Detroit auto show in 2007.

PHOTO: Jason Kryk, National Post

The latest low-emission offerings from manufacturers who will be at the 2010 Vancouver International Auto Show

By Andrew McCredie, Canwest News Service

Originally published: March 26, 2010

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The greening of the global automotive industry is hardly a new story, as many manufacturers have spent the last decade pouring hundreds of millions of dollars, yen and euros into ecofriendly research and development.

Sure, some of it has been window-dressing of sorts — a Porsche hybrid springs to mind — but major breakthroughs in propulsion systems are finally making their way to market, with a handful of plug-in, fully electric vehicles on the verge of popping up not just at auto shows as shiny concepts but as real-world cars owned by average Joes and Janes.

The 15 major manufacturers at the 2010 Vancouver International Auto Show at BC Place next week each have their own somewhat unique take on what the next generation of fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles will look like.

Here’s a quick overview of one such vehicle from each manufacturer.

Audi

Described by Audi as an “uncompromising and ferocious two-seater,” the e-tron concept is an all-electric compact sports car boasting a wheel-spinning 1954 foot-pounds of torque and a sub-six second zero to 100-kilometreper-hour time.

The e-tron is a second generation car from the German automaker and features an all-aluminum body and, in that fine Audi tradition, a Quattro drive train (or all-wheel drive).

BMW

While Audi’s e-tron is years away from being sold in showrooms (if ever), compatriot BMW is just weeks away from bringing to market the BMW ActiveHybrid 7.

Powered by a combination of a twin-turbo V-8 engine and a three-phase synchronous electric motor, the ActiveHybrid 7 has a combined output of 455 horsepower working with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The ActiveHybrid 7 accelerates to 100 km/h in five seconds, while delivering fuel economy approximately 15 per cent better than the 2010 750i.

Chrysler

Expected to be on sale in Canada by the end of the year, the Fiat 500 is equipped with a 1.4-litre engine and has a distinctive Euro-look that will set it apart from the crowded subcompact crowd. Zero to 100 km/h time is reported to be less than eight seconds.

The Transit Connect goes electric this year, with Ford bringing to market a lithium-ion battery version of its popular cargo van. The electric 2010 Connect has a range of approximately 130 kilometres and can be charged using either 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlets.

GM

Utilizing an electric motor, lithium-ion batteries and a 1.4-litre four-cylinder gas engine, the 2011 GM Volt has a reported range of 483 km. The Volt’s propulsion system is driven exclusively by the electric motor. Due in North America in November, the Volt is expected to sell for around US$37,000. No Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.

Honda/Acura

The all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe, set to go on sale this summer in Canada, is powered by a 1.5-litre engine working with a hybrid-electric system. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, though a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available. The CR-Z is Honda’s third hybrid electric to come to market, joining the Civic Hybrid and Insight.

Hyundai

Korea’s Hyundai is the latecomer to the low-emissions Ball. The automaker has no published plans on releasing an electric or hybrid vehicle in Canada.

Mazda has not jumped on the hybrid/ electric bandwagon with both feet. However, the Japanese company has developed a hydrogen hybrid, the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, the world’s first rotary hybrid that can run on both hydrogen and petrol.

Mercedes

The F 800 Style research vehicle features a multi drive platform, suited for electric drives with fuel cells (enabling ranges of almost 600 km) and plug-in hybrids that can drive for up to 30 km on electricity and a certified fuel consumption of only 2.9 litres per 100 km. In electric mode, the F 800 Style has a reported top speed of 120 km/h.

Mitsubishi

Still two or three years from release to the general public, Mitsubishi’s Concept PX-MiEV is an advanced plug-in hybrid design,in an all-wheel drive mid-size package with seating for four. The PX-MiEV features a three-way battery which can be charged with household 110v or 220v current, or by using a quick charge station.

Porsche

Porsche has stuffed a hybrid under a high-performance hood with the 2010 Cayenne S Hybrid. Featuring a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 (333 hp) and electric motor (47 hp) it cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h. It goes on sale in the fall but no Canadian pricing has been released yet.

Beginning in 2012, the automaker plans to introduce plug-in hybrids and battery electrics models, and by 2015 have at least one year hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for general sale globally.

The FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept, or Future Toyota Compact Hybrid, is considered the benchmark vehicle as it is lighter and more fuel efficient than the Prius.

Volvo

The Swedish automaker has announced that by that year it will have plug-in electric hybrids for sale in Canada. The small gas engines working in concert with the electric motors are high-efficiency diesels, not regular petrol power plants.